Industry news
MOL conducts naming ceremony for new LNG-powered ferry
31 August | Vessels
Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has named its new liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered ferry, which was ordered from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.
Named Sunflower Murasaki, the new vessel is anticipated to be delivered next March.
The company conducted the naming and launching ceremonies for the vessel, which is the second of Japan’s first two LNG-driven ferries, at the Enoura Plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works.
The new vessel is a sister ship to Sunflower Kurenai and will be used on the Osaka-Beppu route as an alternative to the vessel currently in service. It will be operated by Ferry Sunflower.
The new ferry has interconnecting passenger rooms, which are claimed to be the first of their kind on a long-distance ferry. Furthermore, it features advanced technology and a modern design that are expected to further improve Sunflower Ferry’s casual cruise concept.
MOL has placed an order for a total of four LNG-fuelled ferries. Two of these ferries will be constructed following the Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki. The two new vessels will enter service on the Oarai-Tomakomai route as an alternative to the ferries presently in operation.
30 August | BUsiness & Operations
TMI makes buyout offer for Grindrod Shipping
Taylor Maritime Investments (TMI) has made a non-binding indicative bid to acquire the remaining stake in Singapore-based rival Grindrod Shipping Holdings.
TMI and its subsidiaries already own a 26% stake in Grindrod, which mainly offers maritime transportation services in the dry bulk sector.
Under the latest proposal, TMI hopes to purchase, for $26 a share, both the issued and to be issued share capital of Grindrod that it does not already own.
This would include a cash payment of $21 per share, as well as a special cash dividend from Grindrod of $5 per share to its existing shareholders.
The proposed offer values Grindrod at around $494m.
Grindrod has started exclusive talks with TMI over the proposed deal, though the entities have still not agreed on definitive terms.
30 August | Ukraine Crisis
APMT to offload stake in Global Ports Investments
APM Terminals (APMT), a subsidiary of Danish shipping company Maersk, has agreed to sell its 30.75% stake in Russia-based container terminal operator Global Ports Investments (GPI).
The move is part of Maersk’s commitment, which was announced earlier this year, to end its operations in Russia as a result of the country’s military incursion against Ukraine.
The stake is being divested to Delo Group, a long-standing joint venture partner of the company, which also has a 30.75% interest in GPI.
The deal provides an option for APMT to re-enter the alliance with Delo in the future.
Following the sale of its stake in GPI, APMT will no longer own any assets in Russia or engage with any entity having operations in the country.
29 August | FUels
K Line tests marine biofuel on Supramax bulker
Japan-based Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has trialled marine biofuel on a Supramax bulk carrier in a decarbonisation push.
Alongside JFE Steel, the company tested marine biofuel delivered by GoodFuels on the Supramax bulker known as Albion Bay.
The vessel concluded the loading operation of Hot Rolled Steel Coils at JFE Steel Corporation West Japan Works and began sailing to Pakistan’s discharging port.
GoodFuels delivered the marine fuel off Singapore. The vessel carried out the trial of the marine biofuel after leaving Singapore and reached the discharging point safely.
The test was conducted using marine biofuel integrated with bio-diesel and fossil fuel. Without any modifications to existing engine specifications, bio-diesel can lower CO2 by around 80%-90% in the well-to-wake process.
K Line stated that it is the second successful trial use of marine biofuel by its vessel. The company also intends to carry out a similar type of test using marine biofuel on capesize bulk carrier for JFE Steel’s raw material shipment.
26 August | Business & Operations
CIMC terminates acquisition deal with Maersk
China International Marine Containers (CIMC) has terminated an acquisition deal with AP Moller-Maersk (Maersk) related to a refrigerated containers manufacturer.
Last September, CIMC agreed to acquire Maersk Container Industry (MCI) from Maersk in a deal valued at around $987.3m.
Significant regulatory challenges have prevented the closing of the transaction. As a result, the companies decided to terminate the agreement.
The intended divestment was expected to be completed this year, but the deal was subject to regulatory approvals, as part of the closing process.
24 August | Business & Operations
Wärtsilä wins contract from Associated British Ports
Wärtsilä Voyage has reached a five-year framework agreement with the UK-based ports group Associated British Ports (ABP) for the digitalisation of the latter’s maritime operations.
Under the contract, the business unit of technology group Wärtsilä will digitalise operations at 21 ABP-operated ports.
The selected technologies for the digitalisation will include the Navi-Port and Navi-Harbour Vessel Traffic Services as well as the Port Management Information System.
The project started in June and will include the implementation of technologies in multiple phases across all of ABP’s ports.
23 August | Projects
Hapag-Lloyd begins fleet upgrade programme
German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has embarked on a comprehensive fleet upgrade programme that will include more than 150 ships over the next five years.
The programme commenced with the loading of the first retrofit propeller in the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
German manufacturer MMG optimised the propeller for energy efficiency. Next month, the propeller will be deployed on Hapag-Lloyd’s 7,500 twenty-foot equivalent unit ‘Ningbo Express’ in Dubai.
Based on sailing conditions, the ship is expected to save 10%-13% in fuel and CO2 emissions.
The company intends to deploy the new propellers on a minimum of 86 vessels, while a new, flow-optimised bulbous bow will be installed on 36 ships.
A resistance-reducing coat of anti-fouling paint will also be applied to all vessels on the part of the exterior hull beneath the waterline during scheduled dry dock stays, Hapag-Lloyd stated.
The company aims to implement most of its measures by 2025 to attain its climate commitments.
22 August | Workforce
UK’s Felixstowe port workers strike over wage disputes
Workers under the trade union Unite have commenced an eight-day strike, demanding a hike in pay amid the soaring cost of living, at the UK Port of Felixstowe, reported the BBC.
It is said to be the first such disruption to the port since 1989.
The strike at the UK’s largest container port is a result of failed talks between the union and the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
The company had offered a 7% pay rise and a single payment of £500. According to the union, the offer is ‘significantly below’ the real inflation rate of 11.8%.
More than 1,900 workers, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, will join the industrial action and halt operations at the port.
This is likely to affect the UK’s supply chain, as well as the logistics and haulage sectors.
In brief
Torghatten Nord gets AiP for two hydrogen-driven vessels
Norwegian ship owner Torghatten Nord has received approval in principle from the UK-based maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register for two hydrogen-fuelled ferries.
TotalEnergies concludes biofuel bunkering on Cosco boxship
TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, a business unit of TotalEnergies, has concluded its first bunkering of sustainable marine biofuel on a Cosco Shipping Lines container ship.
NYK Line takes delivery of new wood-chip carrier
Nippon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) Line has taken the delivery of a new wood-chip carrier, called Stellar Harmony, from Imabari Shipbuilding Group’s member Iwagi Zosen.
Corvus Energy to supply energy storage systems for two CSOVs
Ulstein Power & Control has selected Corvus Energy to provide energy storage systems for two construction service operation vessels (CSOVs).
MOL’s large-scale LCO₂ carrier design receives ClassNK approval
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has granted approval in principle to the design of a large-scale liquefied carbon dioxide carrier from Japanese firm Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
23 August | Projects
Hapag-Lloyd begins fleet upgrade programme
German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has embarked on a comprehensive fleet upgrade programme that will include more than 150 ships over the next five years.
The programme commenced with the loading of the first retrofit propeller in the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
German manufacturer MMG optimised the propeller for energy efficiency. Next month, the propeller will be deployed on Hapag-Lloyd’s 7,500 20-foot equivalent unit ‘Ningbo Express’ in Dubai.
Based on sailing conditions, the ship is expected to save 10%-13% in fuel and CO2 emissions.
The company intends to deploy the new propellers on a minimum of 86 vessels, while a new, flow-optimised bulbous bow will be installed on 36 ships.
A resistance-reducing coat of anti-fouling paint will also be applied to all vessels on the part of the exterior hull beneath the waterline during scheduled dry dock stays, Hapag-Lloyd stated.
The company aims to implement most of its measures by 2025 to attain its climate commitments.
22 August | workforce
UK’s Felixstowe port workers strike over wage disputes
Workers under the trade union Unite have commenced an eight-day strike, demanding a hike in pay amid the soaring cost of living, at the UK Port of Felixstowe, reported the BBC.
It is said to be the first such disruption to the port since 1989.
The strike at the UK’s largest container port is a result of failed talks between the union and the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
The company had offered a 7% pay rise and a single payment of £500 ($579). According to the union, the offer is ‘significantly below’ the real inflation rate of 11.8%.
More than 1,900 workers, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, will join the industrial action and halt operations at the port.
This is likely to affect the UK’s supply chain, as well as the logistics and haulage sectors.
